In a small mining community lives an orphan girl who is engaged to a miner. A degenerate Mexican infests the camp and proves a menace to the citizens. The orphan's sweetheart finds him intimidating two young sweethearts and gives him a well-deserved beating. Thus he incurs the Mexican's hatred. A young stranger, coming into camp, accidentally shoots himself while cleaning his revolver. The orphan girl takes him into her cabin and dresses his wound. She is called out by the Mexican and attacked, but is saved by the stranger. To secure revenge, the Mexican informs the miners that the orphan is harboring a man in her cabin; this reaches the ears of the orphan's sweetheart. With a strong fist, the young miner smashes the lying mouth. In the meantime, the stranger, unaware that the girl is engaged to the miner, falls in love with her. The miner finds it out and his heart aches, but he acts straight. Upon learning the truth, the stranger departs; he makes his way up the hill, leaving the girl behind with a sore heart, for she loves him in a way. However, as he looks back and down the mountain, the stranger sees the Mexican below him on a cliff about to shoot the miner and the girl as they stand on the door-step. He hurriedly throws his pack onto him, spoiling his aim; then he jumps over and down. He kills the Mexican, but his own life is sacrificed.